Buy your salvia now

It looks like the state of Wisconsin is about to take a step backwards on drug policy. Yesterday the State Senate approved a ban on Salvia divinorum, a mild hallucinogen that many head shops sell. All that is left is Gov. Doyle’s signature.

The Senate passed a Democratic-authored bill that prohibits the manufacture and distribution of Salvia divinorum. Violators would face up to $10,000 in fines.

This just goes to show that ignorance on drugs will always lead to unnecessary and even harmful regulation. Salvia is the most innocuous drug on the market –– I would even argue that it could be beneficial in offering recreational drug users a briefer alternative to more time-consuming hallucinations. Although responses to Salvia differ, the hallucination rarely lasts more than about 10-15 minutes.

I will have more reporting on this in the near future. I am going to try to get a statement from the mayor (whether he wants to weigh in on state affairs or not) and try to talk to the chief sponsors of the bill.